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| Day 5 - Self-Portrait Series, Joanne Husain, 2012 |
I saw a few of Joanne's photos randomly and fell for the entire series. I am happy to have her answer some questions on this 30 day self-portrait challenge.
TC: Why did you decide to do it?
JH: I have done a few challenges in the past with the same friend I just mentioned. We do them just for the sake of camera practice and creativity development. After not doing any challenges for quite a while, we decided to do this one. It was as simple as that really. I only realized after I started just how much it can be a method of self exploration and expression.
TC: Was it a challenge to conceptualize each day's portrait?
JH: The concepts themselves weren’t too hard to come by at all. I just went with the flow of everyday life and took my inspiration from songs, my moods and even things around the house. I also did not plan any of the pictures way in advance. They were all “same day concepts” as I tried to keep things spontaneous.
TC: Did you like being in front of the camera?
JH: These were not random snapshots. I had full creative control over the end result and I liked that part of it. I could give a photograph a voice. Generally speaking though, I’m not a big fan of having my picture taken so naturally there were some awkward feelings.
TC: Did you have a photo challenge buddy who helped inspire you etc?
JH: A friend of mine started the challenge with me. Unfortunately he didn’t stick to our agreement and his set is yet to be completed. This I find a little amusing since the self portrait idea was his in the first place!
TC: You've managed to show much of your personality and life in your photos. How do you feel about it now that it's done? Improved? Inspired?
JH: I am happy that I completed the project. I learnt a lot more about using my camera and that can only be a good thing. Some of the photos were loads of fun and there are some that are deeply personal. There is one in particular that I would go so far as to describe it as cathartic. It never ceases to amaze me that there can be so much back-story to a photograph.
ON CREATIVITY
TC: Do you have a creative support network? Would you recommend one for creative people?
JH: They’re not fellow artists belonging to any official group or anything like that. They are just my regular go-to people and that suits me fine. Whether it’s an organized network or something more personal, I think once you have people you can trust to advise you and share ideas with, that’s all you really need.
TC: How do you deal with burn out?
JH: I firmly believe that there is nothing better than a little outdoor exposure to help clear the mind! Music and movies also provide me with some good mental escapes. Being multi-disciplinary helps in a sense because I’m if in a painting rut, for example, I can always focus on something else like photography. Of course, in serious creative doldrums that’s where my wingmen swoop in to remind me that I shouldn’t be discouraged.
TC: Your fashion photography is very strong - would you go down that path or you're going to explore some more?
JH: I have always loved fashion. Maybe it’s a consequence of being female, but I blame religiously watching “Style with Elsa Klensch” when I was growing up for it more! Thanks to that show, the first thing I ever wanted to be was a fashion designer. Clearly, that didn’t happen but my interest in fashion has never gone under the rug. When I was studying Theatre at university, the most enjoyable part for me was costuming and makeup. I think it’s the transformative nature of it that I admire tremendously and my knack for it shows. With a little more exploration I’d definitely like to get involved somehow with fashion photography.
TC: What's your take on our modern lives - that everyone is a photographer once they have a decent camera?
JH: Everyone is free to buy a camera and try their hand at it. I really don’t have a problem with that because that’s simply how it starts for everyone. It’s the apparent saturation of people who believe that owning a DSLR makes them an instant professional photographer that I find unfortunate. It bombards the masses with mediocrity and what’s worse is that they settle for it. Cameras don’t make photographs. People make photographs. Fortunately, the good photographers - the ones who are careful with their craft, always stand out from the crowd and it’s so refreshing to come across good work.
TC: How do you feel about the Instagram generation and the recent Facebook takeover?
JH: They are directly responsible for the proliferation of dumb girl bathroom mirror pictures and the duck lip craze! Instagram just seems pointless and doesn’t appeal to me. It might be fun for some people as a social thing - to each his own. Facebook, while we all love to hate it, actually has some very good uses. What stands out to me is that it’s a genius marketing tool and creative people are especially capitalizing on this. I come across pages for painters, photographers, jewellery-makers, makeup artists, cake decorators and what have you all the time. Of course you get the good and the bad, but a lot of them are people who wouldn’t have had the means otherwise to get their work out there. Facebook allowed them to do that and many people are making their living this way doing what they love. I think that’s great! The duck lip thing still annoys me though.
One thing I find quite hilarious about the takeover is that some Instagram users seem to have privacy issues. I'm sure most of these people already have a Facebook account and isn't that one of the main places where they already share their snaps? Sounds like hipster issues to me. No one should ever fool themselves into thinking the internet is truly private. Skynet is real! (Cue Terminator Theme).
TC: Anything else to add?
JH: I have never considered myself a professional artist, designer or photographer. It’s never about the titles and it’s not my place to bestow titles upon myself. I will always feel like the small child who does these things simply for the love of it. I am always striving to learn, connect and share, so thank you Tracey for the feature!
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| Day 10 - Self-Portrait Series, Joanne Husain, 2012 |
JH: I have done a few challenges in the past with the same friend I just mentioned. We do them just for the sake of camera practice and creativity development. After not doing any challenges for quite a while, we decided to do this one. It was as simple as that really. I only realized after I started just how much it can be a method of self exploration and expression.
TC: Was it a challenge to conceptualize each day's portrait?
JH: The concepts themselves weren’t too hard to come by at all. I just went with the flow of everyday life and took my inspiration from songs, my moods and even things around the house. I also did not plan any of the pictures way in advance. They were all “same day concepts” as I tried to keep things spontaneous.
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| Day 3 - Self-Portrait Series, Joanne Husain, 2012 |
JH: These were not random snapshots. I had full creative control over the end result and I liked that part of it. I could give a photograph a voice. Generally speaking though, I’m not a big fan of having my picture taken so naturally there were some awkward feelings.
TC: Did you have a photo challenge buddy who helped inspire you etc?
JH: A friend of mine started the challenge with me. Unfortunately he didn’t stick to our agreement and his set is yet to be completed. This I find a little amusing since the self portrait idea was his in the first place!
TC: You've managed to show much of your personality and life in your photos. How do you feel about it now that it's done? Improved? Inspired?
JH: I am happy that I completed the project. I learnt a lot more about using my camera and that can only be a good thing. Some of the photos were loads of fun and there are some that are deeply personal. There is one in particular that I would go so far as to describe it as cathartic. It never ceases to amaze me that there can be so much back-story to a photograph.
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| Day 24 - Self-Portrait Series, Joanne Husain, 2012 |
TC: Any photographers/artists works helped you along the way?
JH:There was no one in particular, unless you count the caricature of Michelangelo’s Adam (drawn by my brother) in Day 24 as help. I think in any personal project such as this it is very important to conceptualize things as independently as possible.
TC: How do making photographs make you feel?
JH: I like that photography is something where you are always learning something new. I am also in awe of the fact that a photograph can wield great power over the viewer. It freezes time, makes a statement, makes you laugh, makes you cry and the list goes on. These things are fascinating to me so I am pleased that I can continue to learn and develop artistically from making photographs.
JH: I teach Drama/Theatre Arts at a secondary school and I am also the acting head of the school’s Visual and Performing Arts Department. Thankfully, it is a job that allows a decent amount of free time, so I am usually able to balance my freelance work and personal projects quite effectively. I will always make time for my art though. That’s when I feel most alive.
TC:Would you do another self portrait challenge or a conceptual project based on yourself?
JH: Well, there is always the possibility. I’ll only know for sure when the time comes.
JH:There was no one in particular, unless you count the caricature of Michelangelo’s Adam (drawn by my brother) in Day 24 as help. I think in any personal project such as this it is very important to conceptualize things as independently as possible.
JH: I like that photography is something where you are always learning something new. I am also in awe of the fact that a photograph can wield great power over the viewer. It freezes time, makes a statement, makes you laugh, makes you cry and the list goes on. These things are fascinating to me so I am pleased that I can continue to learn and develop artistically from making photographs.
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| Day 20 - Self-Portrait Series, Joanne Husain, 2012 |
TC: How do you balance your day job with your own personal art practice?
JH: I teach Drama/Theatre Arts at a secondary school and I am also the acting head of the school’s Visual and Performing Arts Department. Thankfully, it is a job that allows a decent amount of free time, so I am usually able to balance my freelance work and personal projects quite effectively. I will always make time for my art though. That’s when I feel most alive.
TC:Would you do another self portrait challenge or a conceptual project based on yourself?
JH: Well, there is always the possibility. I’ll only know for sure when the time comes.
ON CREATIVITY
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| Day 9 - Self-Portrait Series, Joanne Husain, 2012 |
JH: They’re not fellow artists belonging to any official group or anything like that. They are just my regular go-to people and that suits me fine. Whether it’s an organized network or something more personal, I think once you have people you can trust to advise you and share ideas with, that’s all you really need.
TC: How do you deal with burn out?
JH: I firmly believe that there is nothing better than a little outdoor exposure to help clear the mind! Music and movies also provide me with some good mental escapes. Being multi-disciplinary helps in a sense because I’m if in a painting rut, for example, I can always focus on something else like photography. Of course, in serious creative doldrums that’s where my wingmen swoop in to remind me that I shouldn’t be discouraged.
 |
| Day 21 - Self-Portrait Series, Joanne Husain, 2012 |
JH: I have always loved fashion. Maybe it’s a consequence of being female, but I blame religiously watching “Style with Elsa Klensch” when I was growing up for it more! Thanks to that show, the first thing I ever wanted to be was a fashion designer. Clearly, that didn’t happen but my interest in fashion has never gone under the rug. When I was studying Theatre at university, the most enjoyable part for me was costuming and makeup. I think it’s the transformative nature of it that I admire tremendously and my knack for it shows. With a little more exploration I’d definitely like to get involved somehow with fashion photography.
TC: What's your take on our modern lives - that everyone is a photographer once they have a decent camera?
JH: Everyone is free to buy a camera and try their hand at it. I really don’t have a problem with that because that’s simply how it starts for everyone. It’s the apparent saturation of people who believe that owning a DSLR makes them an instant professional photographer that I find unfortunate. It bombards the masses with mediocrity and what’s worse is that they settle for it. Cameras don’t make photographs. People make photographs. Fortunately, the good photographers - the ones who are careful with their craft, always stand out from the crowd and it’s so refreshing to come across good work.
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| Day 27 - Self-Portrait Series, Joanne Husain, 2012 |
JH: They are directly responsible for the proliferation of dumb girl bathroom mirror pictures and the duck lip craze! Instagram just seems pointless and doesn’t appeal to me. It might be fun for some people as a social thing - to each his own. Facebook, while we all love to hate it, actually has some very good uses. What stands out to me is that it’s a genius marketing tool and creative people are especially capitalizing on this. I come across pages for painters, photographers, jewellery-makers, makeup artists, cake decorators and what have you all the time. Of course you get the good and the bad, but a lot of them are people who wouldn’t have had the means otherwise to get their work out there. Facebook allowed them to do that and many people are making their living this way doing what they love. I think that’s great! The duck lip thing still annoys me though.
One thing I find quite hilarious about the takeover is that some Instagram users seem to have privacy issues. I'm sure most of these people already have a Facebook account and isn't that one of the main places where they already share their snaps? Sounds like hipster issues to me. No one should ever fool themselves into thinking the internet is truly private. Skynet is real! (Cue Terminator Theme).
TC: Anything else to add?
JH: I have never considered myself a professional artist, designer or photographer. It’s never about the titles and it’s not my place to bestow titles upon myself. I will always feel like the small child who does these things simply for the love of it. I am always striving to learn, connect and share, so thank you Tracey for the feature!
TC: Thanks for sharing Jo! It's a pleasure to have your work gracing my pages!
Joanne's full self-portrait series can be found here.
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| Day 14 - Self-Portrait Series, Joanne Husain, 2012 |
